OUR DAILY BREAD Friday, March 10, 1995 --------------- READ: John 16:16-33 A REASON FOR OPTIMISM "A merry heart does good, like medicine." - Proverbs 17:22 The Bible isn't a psychology textbook, but it gives us the wisest counsel for experiencing happiness here and now. Proverbs 17:22, for example, assures us that "a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." That simple statement was recently corroborated by the extensive research of Dr. Daniel Mark, a heart specialist at Duke University. The "New York Times" article that reported his findings carried this headline: "Optimism Can Mean Life for Heart Patients and Pessimism Death." The article begins with these words: "A healthy outlook helps heal the heart." But another heart specialist, Dr. Nancy Frasure-Smith, who has studied the effect of depression, anxiety, and anger, admitted, "We don't know how to change negative emotions." Faith in God, however, can produce that change. People who look beyond their present difficulty and put their trust in God's goodness cannot help but be joyful. It's significant that our Savior said on several occasions, "Be of good cheer" (Mt. 9:2, 22; 14:27; Acts 23:11). In full view of life's many crises, He encourages us with this word of reassurance: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33). -- Vernon C. Grounds All your anxiety, all your care Bring to the Mercy Seat, leave it there. Never a burden He cannot bear, Never a Friend like Jesus. - Joy ------------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------------- No matter what happens, you can be happy in the Lord. ------------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 13-15 ------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. Written permission must be obtained from RBC for any further posting or distribution. Radio Bible Class provides a variety of Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. This copy redistributed by Larry Holder (larryh@utm.edu) with express written permission of RBC, from an original distribution by Ken Foster (kfoster@sptekwv14.wv.tek.com). Redistribution is only to individuals and lists that have expressly consented to receiving a copy. <>< ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950310.txt .